Using Real-Time Freeform Annotations as Qualitative e-Research Metadata

Abstract. Qualitative analyses may emerge over long periods of time, sometimes through reinspection of old data in a new light, and sometimes over the course of changing research groups and projects. However, predicting which materials and markings might be useful to retain for future use is often a difficult and time-consuming job which typically in e-Science has led to constraints on metadata categories through ontologies, or the use of automated tools for simple event logging. As a result, analysts may have to rely on memory to find and restudy data together, and may lose some potentially useful threads of analysis altogether. Within the MiMeG e-Social Science node, we have been working on ways of recording and storing a variety of annotations as metadata related to distributed analysis, such that they can be retrieved in later situations and repurposed to feed new ideas. Keeping track of research activities in this way requires i) that we maintain the use of freeform annotations and provide methods of retrieval partly based on skill and memory rather than automation ii) that the system should take into account ownership and authorship of annotation data and iii) that we understand what forms of freeform annotation, such as transcripts, scribbles, audio and even off-screen movements, may be used to support qualitative e-research.